Studio Stories presents ‘Stories From the Queer Side of Suburbia’

Studio Stories presents ‘Stories From the Queer Side of Suburbia.’ A night of readings from the queer side of the western suburbs at Parramatta Artist Studios in celebration of Mardi Gras. Featuring Siobhan Colman and writers from the anthology Ornaments from Two Countries, edited by Peter Polites. Come for a drink and a chat and a listen and byo your own material for the open mike. Free Entry, free food and drink, free stories. What more could you want?

Thursday March 5th 2015 at 6:30

A Letter to my Students 1985-2011Some Thoughts on LeavingI began teaching at CCC in 1985 when
it was known by a slightly different title, located on a road of a different
name, surrounded by farmland. The girls had big hair and short dresses and
they, many of them, inscribed their pencil cases and books with names like
Spandeau Ballet and Dragon, Cyndy Lauper and Madonna (when they were young).
There were less than 500 students. We had no Ag, no Art rooms, no computers, no
security fencing, no mobile phones. We went to Year 10 like most girls schools
then.After their School Certificate, our
girls had to find other schools to continue their education.Some of those girls were your
mothers.Things have changed a lot since
then. The school has a different name and uniform. The farmland is gone. The
road outside has been renamed. You don’t have to complete a School Certificate.
You are able to stay on to do your HSC. The internet means you no longer have
to rely on your parents, or teachers, for information. You can be masters of your
own destiny like never before.But there are a few things I want
you to carry with you as you fulfil that destiny and I hope you don’t mind if I
share these thoughts with you now. I may never have a better opportunity.I used to tell my students that they
are my future. And I still adhere to that knowledge. You will be the ones to rise to the challenges ahead: inequality,
global warming, ethical ways of building and sharing wealth and resources.
These are big! Much bigger than your mother’s hair when she was fifteen!As young women, you will learn first-hand
what it is to live in an unequal world. You will need to fight for fair
treatment and representation (in Parliament, on TV, in sport, in film), for
fair promotion and pay, for the right to live in a world that is safe for you
and any children you might have. You will need to stand up for what you believe
in and keep telling the world what needs to change. If not for yourself then
for women, young and old, around the world who have no voice and few rights. Be
their voice. I know the future is in good hands.
You are proof of that.I want to thank you for all the
years of kindness, for the mischief and the fun. For encouraging me to rethink
and to ask questions, of myself and others. For being yourself in a world which
so often wants to make us all the same. For allowing me to be myself. For
respecting difference. For prioritising truth and integrity. Teachers, as I’m sure you all know,
are not perfect. You’d hate it if we were! But there are some things you should
know about your teachers (my colleagues and friends):We love you.We take joy when you show an
interest in your work, in life, in the world around you.We never stop. We work through
weekends, holidays, evenings… we rarely socialise with our friends because we
can’t spare the time. School is our life. We work harder than we should and
give our bodies less rest than we need. We are on your side. We prepare you
to face an adult world. And like your parents, we would protect you from harm
if we could.We don’t do the job for the pay. Or
for the security. We teach because we love spending each day in a world full of
you!As many of you know, I have had to
stop being the teacher I once was. Cancer is a tough battle but I am hoping that
it is one I will overcome.But I will miss you all.And it is that I will miss more than anything.
That daily joy of seeing your faces and listening to you and learning from you.
So I just want to say thank you. It’s
been a wonderful adventure.Thank you
for sharing these years with me. They have been the greatest of my life.With love.And hope.Siobhan ColmanB. Ed (1985-2013)

The Pyramid in Hobart September 2013

Thanks to an excellent cast and crew The Pyramid was a success.My thanks to the audiences who were enthusiastic and engaging.My thanks, also to the ABC who gave it an excellent review and helped with promotion.Thanks to Tastheatre and The Theatre Royal, friends and family for your support. Nothing could be achieved without it!Brilliant Cast: Mark Cutler, Clare Gray and Campbell Mc Kenzie

The Pyramid at the Theatre Royal Hobart September 2013

I will be directing a new season of The Pyramid at the wonderful Theatre Royal Hobart Backspace. I am lucky enough to have on board the very talented Clare Gray, Mark Cutler and Campbell Mc Kenzie as cast members. This production is part of the Cascade Indie Program of the Tasmanian Theatre Company. I am honoured and proud to be invited on board for 2013.http://www.theatreroyal.com.au/shows/pyramid

New Mardi Gras Short Story Competition 2010

The Pyramid Melbourne Season Jan-Feb 2010

Highly Acclaimed theatre company Three To A Room presented The Pyramid as part of the Melbourne Midsumma Festival.Directed by Aimee Blesing with performances by Don Bridges, Felicity Steel and Mick Lo Monaco, the play recieved considerable attention and excellent reviews.For me personally, the experience of working with these talented and committed professionals was life-changing. I am incredibly grateful to them for their commitment to the piece. And to me.